Reenforced transparent sheet and process of making the same



' Oct. '9; 1928 1,686,649 v M. T. BRUSH REENFbncED TRANSPARENT SHEET AND PRcEss oF MAKING `Tm@ SAME;

Filed Feb. 26. 1927 Mini/lll ew' Bwsk INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 192g".

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Mr'r'rrn yTAYLOR BRUSH, or DUBLIN, .NEW HAMrsHrnn.

Application led February 26; 1927. Serial No. 171,330.

vThe present invention relates to a transparent composite sheet designed particularly for use for. the curtain lights of motor vehicles and other windows but useful generally as a transparent surfacing material; and the 0bject thereofis to provied a reenforced composite sheet which not only is transparent, or substantially transparent, but Will not tear and is both tough and flexible so that it will not be broken, or at least'will not be shattered,

by blows or impact.

My new composite' sheet consists, broadly stated, of a body of some suitable cellulose derivative, such for example as celluloid, py-

15 raline, or one of the usual cellulose acetates, and, incorporated therein, a meshwork of wires or of libre threads either simply crossed or netted together. In practice, I prefer for the body of the sheet a liquid solution of cellulose acetate, which, when spread and dried, forms a tough flexible sheet that is quite clear and transpar;

ent and at the same time burns slowly so as to be practically non-combustible, and for the reenforcement, particularly 'for curtain lights and similar uses, a meshwork of line tinned spring music Wires, of N o. .004 to .008

p gauge for example, spaced apart and crossed to provide a mesh of from one to twoinches. The great dithculty encountered in the manufacture ot' the sheets has been in satisfactorily incorporating therein the line reenforcing Wires or threads, which curl or bend and `get out of place. I have obviated this diiiiculty by'weaving the meshworkof reenforc ing Wires or threads in a looin within a border or frameV of linen or cotton threads,whioh l border is then sized in a thin solution prefer ably ot' a, gelatine size such for example as 4o French size and stretched and dried, and,

when dry, will hold the reenforcing elements l taut. The solution having been spread in a sheet of the desired thickness over a plate of glass or metal, the surface of which has beenl slightlymoistened with glycerine, the reenforcement fra-med and held as stated islaidr thereon and sinks or is pressed down land so becomes embedded therein; or, if desired, the reenforcement can be compiled between two 5 line, or similar composition, which can then be united in the usual or in any suitable mani in place is to string the `wires around, or

`previously formed sheets, of cellulod', pyrastretch a reticular fabric'of linen or other threads upon, a frame of thin steel and, after the reenforceinent has been incorporated in the sheet, to cut the sheet out of the frame, which can be used repeatedly. For certain uses the reenforcing Wires or 'threads may be arranged more closely together so as to form say a one-quarter inch mesh, a netting of threads having Wiresinserted therein at intervals it' desired, in which case the reenforcement may first be suitably secured in place and then the solution can be applied thereto so as to cover and envelope the reent'orcin g elements and lill in the openin gs. And Where Wires are used for the reenforcement and they are of a size or character to hold themselves in place the lborder or frame may be omitted, the `wire mesh being simply unrollcd over andallowed to sink into the liquid sheet of celestrone.

Practical embodiments of the invention are shown, by Way of illustration and not of lim# itation, -in the accompanying drawings, in Which- 1 Figure l is a side or plan view of a composite sheet, partially broken away, having incorporated therein a reenforcement of line wires framed Within a textile border; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion ofl such sheet; F ig.- 8 is a plan or side view of a 85 portion of another sheet, illustrating a modi-v lication;Fig. 4 is a sectional detail thereof v similar to Fig. 2'; and Fg.'5 is'a plan or side` ,I

the Iintermediate border into two separate 10oY sheets. The border, or at least all but its inner edge, need notbe incorporated in the body of the sheet, thus providing, when the sizing vis removed therefro'm, a soft flexible bprder by which the sheet can be sewedin pace.

In`the modification illustrated in. Fi s. 3 and 4, a1 indicates the' composition bo yof the sheet and `b1' anetting of linen-or'other suitable fibre threads embedded therein.

This netting is .stretched up'on a thin metal frame 01, by passing its outer loops over the projections formed between notches in the outer edge of the frame. A meshwork of tine crossed wires can be strung on the frame in a similar manner. Here only the reenforcing elements within the frame are incorporated in the composition sheet, the frame forming no part of the finished sheet which, when hardened, is cut out from the frame.

In the further modication illustrated in Fig. 5, a2 indicates the body of the sheetand b2 the reenforc'ement of .Woven Wire mesh. This sheet 1s formed, Where the wires are stiff enough to hold themselves in place, by simply unrolling the Woven mesh over and .allowing yit to sink into a sheet of the cellu- --lose acetate lsolution while in liquid or'uid condition.

'The term transparent is usedherein and 1n the claims as meaning substantially transparent. .or `="translucent.

1""W'hat I yclaim as new, and desire to secure Leccese y forming a meshwork of fine reinforcing elements within a border of sized Woven fibre threads, spreading in a sheet a solution of a cellulose derivative forming on hardening a tough andflexible transparent film, incorporating the reinforcing *elements in said sheet while in fluid condition, and allowing the sheet to harden.

3'. A reentorced transparent sheet comprising a body of a composition having for its base a cellulose derivative and incorporated therein a meshwork of fine reenforcing elements secured Within a woven textile border.

4. A reeniforced transparent sheet comprising a body of a composition having for its base a cellulose derivative and incorporated therein a meshwork of fine spring wires sccured within a woven fabric border.

5. 'A reent'orced transparent sheet compris# ing a body of a composition having for 'its base a cellulose derivative and incorporated therein beth an open meshwork of fine spring Wires and a woven textile border within whi.: h 'the wire meshvvork is secured.

,6. The process of making `a composite sheet of the character describedwhich comprises foi-nung a meshwork of fine reenforcn ing .elements within a frame adapted to hold `said elements tautlylin position and incor= porating the rcenforcement while so framed in a she-et of a cellulose derivative.

MITTIETAYLUR BRUSH. 

